Demonstrating the wild variations in economic status along California’s coast, Montecito is the wealthiest community in Santa Barbara County. This unincorporated “census-designated” place is home—or second- or third-home—to a number of celebrities, lying directly to the east of Santa Barbara in the lower foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. As is typical of the region, weather and proximity to the ocean is a primary draw for residents in Montecito. Onshore breezes temper weather extremes creating a favorable living environment, one that is only enhanced by awe inspiring views of the oceans—great for whale watching, too—and mountains beyond. Read more: Montecito-SB Evolution Landscape